My friend, “Beanie,” a neighbor and prominent gynecologist, had a brain tumor and died 6 months later. He was the second person I knew who had a tumor. The first was cousin Craig. He was only 14 and died rather quickly, too, for the same reason. Of course, brain tumors or other tumors take a while to grow. So it got me to wondering, how does a tumor happen in the first place?
Healthy cells have a built-in feature that decide when they divide, grow, and die. They respond to signals from the body that tell them when to multiply like during wound healing and when to stop growing or self-destruct when they become damaged or old.
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Benign | Non-cancerous; grows slowly and doesn’t spread to other tissues |
| Malignant | Cancerous and can attack nearby tissues and metastasize (spread) to other areas |
Tumors start when these normal control mechanisms malfunction. This typically happens due to damage to a cell’s DNA, the instruction manual that tells cells how to behave. When key genes that control cell growth get damaged or mutated, cells can begin to ignore the body’s normal “stop” signals.
Usually, it takes multiple DNA mutations accumulating over time for a cell to become truly cancerous. The body has repair mechanisms and backup systems, so it often takes several “hits” to different control genes before a cell goes haywire.
Once these control mechanisms fail, the affected cell begins dividing repeatedly without the normal restraint. Instead of dying when it should or stopping when the body signals it to, the cell keeps making copies of itself. These copies inherit the same DNA damage, so they also ignore normal growth controls.
As these abnormal cells continue to multiply, they form a mass, best known as the tumor. Benign tumors stay localized and grow slowly, while malignant tumors can attack surrounding tissues and eventually spread to other parts of the body.
DNA damage can result from various factors: radiation exposure, certain chemicals, viruses, inherited genetic defects, random copying errors during normal cell division, or simply the accumulated wear and tear of aging. Often it’s a combination of factors over time. The process usually takes years or decades, which is why cancer becomes more common with age.
It’s not always about the tumor being “too big” or “too advanced.” Some tumors are considered inoperable because removing them would pose too great a risk to the patient’s health or wouldn’t offer meaningful benefit. Remember: A tumor is called “inoperable” mainly because of location, spread, or surgical risk, not because there are no treatment options.
The development goes like this:
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DNA mutations
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Changes in a cell’s genetic code can come from random errors, aging, environmental exposures (radiation, chemicals), or inherited genes.
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Mutations in oncogenes which promote growth or tumor suppressor genes which prevent overgrowth are common triggers.
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Loss of growth control:
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The cell ignores “stop” signals and keeps dividing when it shouldn’t.
- Exposure to carcinogens like tobacco smoke, radiation, or certain chemicals can damage DNA.
- Poor diet, lack of exercise, and chronic inflammation may also contribute to tumor growth.
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Failure of repair or death signals:
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Normally, damaged cells self-destruct. If this fails, unhealthy cells survive and multiply.
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Clonal expansion:
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The abnormal cell makes copies of itself, creating a cluster better known as a tumor.
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Angiogenesis, a main reason of tumor growth and metastasis, is by supplying nutrients and oxygen.
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Some tumors trick the body into growing new blood vessels to feed them.
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In the Brain
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Sometimes brain tumors start in the brain like gliomas or meningiomas.
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Other times they spread from another cancer in the body (metastatic tumors).
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A tumor happens because cells that should have stopped growing didn’t — due to DNA errors and failed safety checks.
- Blood tests may check for tumor markers or hormone levels.
- Imaging tests (like MRI or CT scans) detect abnormal growths.
- Biopsies confirm whether the tumor is benign or malignant.
In some cases, tumors that are initially inoperable can become operable after treatment shrinks or stabilizes them. If you’re facing this kind of diagnosis, seeking a second opinion, especially from a specialized cancer center, can be a great move. Some places have advanced techniques that make previously inoperable tumors treatable.
Certain types of tumors, particularly some brain cancers like glioblastoma, have finger-like projections that extend far into surrounding healthy tissue in ways that cannot be detected or safely removed during surgery.
When tumors are deemed inoperable, oncologists typically turn to alternative treatments like radiation therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or targeted drug treatments to control the disease and manage symptoms.
Caterina Scorsone, a Canadian actress and a star on Grey’s Anatomy, said, “A tumor often grows silently and doesn’t start making itself known until it’s pushing on structures or organs or tissues around it in a way that starts to mess up the whole system.”
Correct, Caterina! And if you have a family member, friend, or colleague who’s got a tumor, consider sharing. Appreciated!
